1 Corinthians 7 Parallel Bible Translations

1 Corinthians 7 ▼
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BISHOPS
Bishops' Bible of 1568
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
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1 Nowe as concernyng the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me, it is good for a man not to touche a woman. Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
2 Neuerthelesse, to auoyde fornication, let euery man haue his owne wyfe, and let euery woman haue her owne husband. But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.
3 Let the husbande geue vnto the wyfe due beneuolence: Lykewyse also the wyfe vnto the husbande. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 The wyfe hath not the power of her owne body, but the husbande: And likewyse also the husbande hath not the power of his owne body, but the wife. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.
5 Defraude you not the one the other, except it be with both your consentes for a time, that ye may geue your selues to fasting and prayer: and afterward come together againe, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinencie. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6 This I say of fauour, & not of commaundement. Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7 For I woulde that all men were as I my selfe am: but euery man hath his proper gift of God, one after this maner, another after that. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8 I say therefore vnto them that be vnmaryed and wyddowes, it is good for them if they abyde euen as I. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.
9 But if they can not abstayne, let them marrie: For it is better to marrie then to burne. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 Unto the maryed commaunde, not I, but the Lord, Let not the wyfe depart from the husbande: To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11 But and if she depart, let her remayne vnmarried, or be reconciled vnto her husbande againe: And let not the husbande put away his wyfe. (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 But to the renmaunt speake I, not the Lorde: If any brother haue a wife that beleueth not, if she be content to dwell with him, let him not put her away. To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13 And the woman which hath to her husbande an infidell, and he consent to dwel with her, let her not put him away. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14 For the vnbeleuing husbande is sanctified by the wyfe, and the vnbeleuyng wyfe is sanctified by the husbande: els were your children vncleane, but nowe are they holy. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the vnbeleuing depart, let hym depart: A brother or a sister is not in subiection in such thinges: But God hath called vs in peace. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
16 For howe knowest thou O woman, whether thou shalt saue thy husbande? or how knowest thou O man, whether thou shalt saue thy wyfe? For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 But as God hath distributed to euery man, as the Lorde hath called euery one, so let hym walke, and so ordeyne I in all Churches. Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
18 Is any man called beyng circumcised? let him not adde vncircumcision: Is any called vncircumcised? let him not be circumcised. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and vncircumcision is nothing, but the keping of the commaundementes of God. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
20 Let euery man abyde in the same calling, wherein he was called. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Art thou called a seruaunt? care not for it: Neuerthelesse, if thou mayest be free, vse it rather. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.
22 For he that is called in the Lord being a seruaunt, is the Lordes free man: Lykewyse also he that is called beyng free, is Christes seruaunt. For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.
23 Ye are dearely bought, be not ye the seruauntes of men. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.
24 Brethren, let euery man wherin he is called, therin abyde with God. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
25 Nowe concerning virgins I haue no commaundement of the Lord: yet geue I counsell, as one that hath obtayned mercy in the Lorde to be faythfull. Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26 I suppose therfore that it is good for the present necessitie: for I say it is good for a man so to be. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27 Art thou bounde vnto a wife? seke not to be loosed: Art thou loosed from a wyfe? seke not a wyfe. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.
28 But and if thou marrie a wyfe, thou sinnest not, and if a virgin marrie, she hath not sinned: Neuerthelesse, such shall haue trouble in their fleshe, but I beare with you. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29 But this say I brethren, the tyme is short: It remayneth, that they which haue wyues, be as though they had none: This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;
30 And they that wepe, as though they wept not: & they that reioyce, as though they reioyced not: and they that bye, as though they possessed not: and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;
31 And they that vse this worlde, as though they vsed it not: For the fashion of this worlde goeth away. and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32 I woulde haue you without care: He that is vnmaryed, careth for the thinges that belong to the Lorde, how he may please the Lorde: I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.
33 But he that hath maryed awyfe, careth for the thinges that are of the worlde, how he may please his wyfe. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—
34 There is difference betweene a virgin and a wyfe: The vnmaryed woman careth for the thinges that are of the Lorde, that she may be holy both in body and in spirite: Againe she that is maryed careth for the thinges that pertayne to the world, how she may please her husbande. and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.
35 This speake I for your profite, not to tangle you in a snare: but that ye may folowe that which is honest and comely, and that ye may cleaue fast vnto the Lorde without separation. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 But if any man thinke that it is vncomely for his virgin if she passe the time of mariage, and neede so require, let him do what he wyll, he sinneth not: let them be maryed. If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
37 Neuerthelesse, he that purposeth surely in his heart hauing no neede, but hath power ouer his owne wyll, and hath so decreed in his heart that he wyl kepe his virgin, doth well. But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing.
38 So then he that ioyneth his virgin in maryage, doth well: but he that ioyneth not his virgin in mariage, doth better. So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
39 The wyfe is bounde to the lawe as long as her husbande lyueth: but if her husband be dead, she is at libertie to marry with whom she wil, onely in the Lorde. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my iudgement: And I thinke veryly that I haue the spirite of God. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God. In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
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